BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved a resolution adopting the articles of declaration against armed conflicts not only in the city but also in the different parts of the country.
The resolution authored by all members of the city legislative body stated there must be a holistic approach not only to bring the communist rebels to the fold of the law but to protect the citizens from the evils of armed conflicts by joining them or as a support base of the armed struggle.
Under the said resolution, Baguio City enjoys the blessings of democracy, its citizens have the right to a peaceful community, thus, it will protect it citizens against the evils of armed conflicts by reason of ideologies.
Further, the approved articles of declaration against armed conflicts added that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF), its officers and members for as long as they support and advocate armed struggle to overthrow the existing government system, are declared persona non grata in the city.
The resolution stipulated all other groups, whether it be political or peoples organizations which lend support to the armed struggle identified by the CPP-NPA-NDF hierarchy as supporters and those proven to support the activities of the CPP-NPA-NDF, are likewise declared persona non grata in the city.
According to the resolution, the city likewise declared persona non grata all other armed groups that are engaged in terrorist activities, especially those using the city as their haven for the planning and execution of their desired activities that tend to affect the peace and order situation in the city.
The resolution pointed out the city government will not support any activities by the aforementioned groups in the city nor it will recognize their organizations as legitimate mainstream organizations in the city.
The resolution claimed the Philippines is yet to end the longest armed struggle waged by the CPP, its armed group, the NPA and its political arm, the NDF, whose objective is reportedly to overthrow the existing government system by force.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Executive Order No. 70, series of 2018 which outlined whole-of-nation approach on addressing insurgency in the country enforced by the National Task Force to End Local City Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the policy requires agencies to focus their programs on the NPA.
Moreover, Interior and City Government Secretary Eduardo Año previously requested city officials in the different parts of the country to declare the CPP and the NPA persona non grata, unwelcome or unacceptable, to show their support for the government’s fight to end the communist that has been waged for over five decades.
Copies of the approved resolution will be transmitted to the NTF-ELCAC for information, guidance and ready reference.
By DEXTER A. SEE
Photo – Ranking police officials in the Cordillera discuss the prevailing peace and order situation in their areas of jurisdiction and the various anti-criminality, anti-terrorism, anti-insurgency and peacekeeping initiatives that have been put in place to achieve lasting peace regionwide. In photo from left to right are Benguet Provincial Police Director Police Col. Elmer Ragay, Baguio City Police Office City Director Police Col. Allen Rae F. Co and Police Regional Office – Cordillera Regional Director Police Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson. Rosalia T. See
